Today's Paper
» NATIONAL
» ANDHRA PRADESH

Sanitary workers' protest raises a stink

For the second successive Sunday, the twin cities stank with piled up garbage in the collection bins all over with sanitation workers taking a ‘weekend' holiday. Nearly, 4,000 metric tonnes of garbage which is lifted daily has got accumulated as a result of the unions' decision.

What more, the sanitation workers union has also threatened to work only half a day on Monday – ‘Mahasivaratri' to compound the misery of GHMC and citizens as more garbage is likely to be piled up as a result.

“We have decided not to work on Sundays and half-day during festivals till our demands to improve the transport infrastructure in the garbage collection and disposal is improved,” declared Bhagyanagar Municipal Employees Union Secretary Vinay Kapoor.

The union's contention is that the municipal corporation was running rickety long haul trucks and dumper placers putting in danger both the life and limb of the workers besides affecting work efficiency.

It has accused the administration of not purchasing new vehicles because of the Ramky deal and wanted the firm's activities to be confined to the Jawaharnagar dump yard.

Ramky Enviro-Engineers had bagged the contract for building the multi-crore integrated municipal solid waste management project for the city three years ago. It is presently involved in building infrastructure to handle garbage at the dump yard including a compound wall, processing plant, lichette collection facility and a sanitary landfill.

Last Sunday, the workers went on a flash strike, incidentally, after a driver was caught for stealing diesel from a transport vehicle. It was then that the demands for holidays on weekend and festivals was put up even as the garbage piled up in different areas.

When contacted, senior officials said that other private workers would be engaged in the collection and transportation of the accumulated garbage on Monday. Talks would also be held with the workers to resolve the issues later this week, they added.

Workers decide not to work on Sundays and work only half day during festivals

Demand for improvement in transport infrastructure in garbage collection and disposal